In Scotland Voith Hydro Wavegen has secured an agreement for lease in the Western Isles. In Wales, Tidal Energy has been awarded rights to develop sites off St David’s Head in Pembrokeshire. In England Pulse Tidal has the rights to develop sites off Lynmouth, Devon.
These rights give the firms five years to complete their surveys, scoping and consultation work before applying to the Marine Management Organisation or Marine Scotland for planning consent. If granted, the firms can then start construction works.
The Crown Estate also said that further zones will be made available in Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters and that licences for test berths can also be applied for through the leasing process.
Tidal Energy recently told Utility Week that its project was progressing well and that it had let 10 of the 13 contracts needed to build and install its first 1.2MW device.
The planned 350 tonne unit (pictured) is designed to sit on the seabead under its own weight, negating the need for drilling and piling, reducing cost.
CEO Martin Murphy said he believes tidal power will be “at least cost competitive with offshore wind” by the time it reaches commercial scale from “around 2020”. The firm plans to have a 10MW array in the water by 2017 to secure grandfathered Rocs of 5 per megawatt hour.